LFES April 2026 Newsletter
April 2026 Newsletter
Message from Administration
As we welcome the month of April, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to all families celebrating Easter or Passover; may these meaningful traditions bring joy, peace, and connection to your homes.
With spring in full swing, we are excited to enter the final term of the school year. This is always a vibrant and rewarding stretch filled with deep learning, memorable experiences, and several exciting events that will carry us toward June. We look forward to supporting our students as they continue to grow, explore, and thrive in these final months.
Important Dates to Remember
Apr 1 - PAC meeting 7pm
Apr 3 - Good Friday (School Closed)
Apr 6 - Easter Monday (School Closed)
Apr 8 - Reading Link Challenge 11.00-12.00 school gym (parents welcome)
Apr 14 - Reading Link Challenge 12.30-2.00 Lynn Fripps (winning team)
Apr 17 - Hot Lunch / Spirit Day (Stay tuned)
Apr 23 - Class Photos
Apr 28 - LFMSS Musical GR 1-5
Apr 29 - Div 18 Reunification Drill
Apr 30 - Langley Children's Choir Performance Assembly
Info from the School
What is Good Friday?
Good Friday is a Christian holiday that remembers the day Jesus Christ died. It is considered a very quiet and thoughtful day, and many people use it to reflect, attend church services, or spend peaceful time with family.
Good Friday is observed during Holy Week and always falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is recognized as a solemn day in many Christian traditions.
What is Easter Monday?
Easter Monday is the day right after Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. In many countries it is a day to rest, relax, and spend time with family after the busy Easter weekend.
The day has long been part of Christian traditions around the world, often continuing the themes of renewal and celebration following Easter.
What is Passover?
Passover is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. The name comes from the story of God “passing over” the homes of the Israelites during the final plague. (April 1-9)
Families celebrate by having a special meal called a Seder, retelling the Exodus story, and eating matzah (unleavened bread) to remember how quickly the Israelites had to leave Egypt. They also avoid leavened foods throughout the holiday.
April is Autism Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month happens every April and helps people learn about autism, promote acceptance, and support autistic individuals in schools and communities. (how will the school be supporting Autism Awareness Month??)
Grade 5 Basketball Finished - Thank You Coaches!
Thank You, Grade 5 Basketball Coaches!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated parent volunteers who coached the Grade 5 basketball program this year. Marnie Dejong, Jay Lundgren, Maria Notopoulos, Mark Phillips, and Paul Tumber generously gave their time, energy, and enthusiasm to support our students, both on and off the court. Thanks to their commitment, our Grade 5s developed skills, confidence, teamwork, and a love for the game. We are truly grateful for their support of our school community.
Grade 4/5 Track and Field
I just wanted to send a quick note to inform you that our Track Meet will be on Thursday June 11th at McLeod Athletic Park this year. This is a competitive event where our school competes against several other local schools in the following Track Events: Long Jump, Ball Throw, 50M, 100M, 200M, 400M, 800M, 4x100M and a Shuttle Relay. All grade 4 and 5 students will be learning and practicing the Track events in PE as well as with their classroom teachers. This will be part of their PE mark as well as an opportunity to make the Track team. However, not every child will make it to the Track Meet as we do run qualifying rounds for all the events.
Learning and training for Track and Field begins shortly after returning from Spring Break. It is important that students who want to try and make the Track team are committed to regular attendance and coming with running shoes and comfortable clothing during this season.
Due to the number of students, events and limited time in the schedule, we are unable to make exceptions for children who are away or aren’t prepared. We do our best to be fair and take as many students as are allowed by the Track committee.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
I look forward to working with your children and being part of another great Track Meet!
Thank you,
Tracey Vyse
Student Reunification Drill
At the beginning of each school year, all families are asked to complete a reunification form. This form lists the students in your family who attend our school, as well as the adults authorized to pick them up. In the event of a school-wide emergency (such as an earthquake or fire), this information helps us follow our reunification protocol and ensure students are released safely to approved caregivers.
In April, we will be conducting a reunification drill with our Division 18 students and their families. More details about the drill and how it will be carried out will be sent home to Division 18 families soon.
Class Placement Requests
As we approach the end of the school year and begin preparations for the next, I wanted to address a topic that has been on the minds of many parents: teacher placement requests for the upcoming school year.
We deeply value the trust and involvement of our LFES families in their children's education. Your engagement and support are integral to our school's success. However, due to the numerous factors involved in planning and organizing classes, it is not feasible for us to accommodate specific teacher requests from parents.
Our team works diligently to ensure that each class is balanced and that every student is placed in an environment where they can thrive. We are confident in the excellence of all our teachers and believe that every student will be in good hands, regardless of their placement next year. Our teachers are dedicated professionals who are committed to providing the best possible education and support to all students.
We understand that you may have preferences and concerns, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Rest assured, our priority is to create the best learning experience for every child at LFES.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Dress for the Weather
- Students should come prepared for outdoor activities with waterproof jackets, long pants and boots
- Indoor shoes are recommended for comfort inside
- Recess, lunch, and KM Club continue outdoors in most weather conditions
- Indoor options are reserved for extreme weather
- Thank you for helping ensure students stay warm, dry, and ready to learn
Hockey at Recess/Lunch Play Periods
In the past, students have used the school’s floor hockey equipment to play outside during recess and lunch. Unfortunately, this equipment is not designed for outdoor use, and we have been replacing broken sticks far too often. The ongoing cost has become unsustainable, so the school will no longer be able to replace damaged floor hockey sticks.
Moving forward, students who wish to play hockey on their assigned day are welcome to bring their own hockey stick from home. Students will need to work with their classroom teacher to determine an appropriate place to store personal sticks when they are not in use. Please note that the school cannot take responsibility for lost or broken personal hockey sticks.
Grade-level hockey days are as follows:
- Mondays - Grade 5
- Tuesdays - Grade 4
- Wednesdays - Grade 3
- Thursdays - Grade 5
- Fridays - Grade 4
Safety on School Grounds – Watch Where You’re Running!
As a school community, we want to ensure that all students feel safe and cared for before, during, and after school. Throughout the day, we are encouraging students to be mindful of one another by walking in the hallways, moving safely around the school grounds, and taking a moment to look around before heading off to where they’re going. Recently, we’ve had a few collisions when students were moving too quickly, and we want to prevent any further injuries.
We kindly ask families to remind their children to move carefully on school property, especially during busy drop‑off and pick‑up times, and to watch out for younger and smaller peers. Your support helps keep our school a safe place for everyone.
Reminder: Toys and Valuables at School
We kindly ask families to ensure that students do not bring toys or valuable personal items to school. These items often lead to conflict between students, feelings of jealousy, and unnecessary distractions during learning time.
Additionally, the school cannot take responsibility for any personal belongings that are brought from home and become lost, damaged, or misplaced. To help keep our school environment positive, focused, and safe for all learners, we strongly recommend that these items remain at home.
Thank you for your support in helping all students have a great day at school!
Student Absences
- Be sure to let the office know when your child will be absent from school.
- Call the office at 604-530-9973 and leave a message or send an email to LFEAttendance@sd35.bc.ca
The Lunch Lady
- Order your April lunch now.
- Log in
Young Rembrandts
Library Information
Scholastic Book Fair: Thank you for supporting our library fundraiser. Our total profit was $2535. We look forward to purchasing new books for the library. We also appreciate the 17 volunteers who helped at the sale.
The 20 Minute Reading Challenge: April is the last month of our school wide home reading program. Please return all March sheets by April 7th since prize draws will take place April 7 - 13th. Certificates will be awarded in June for those students who have met the challenge of reading 20 days each month for all 7 months of the program.
Langley Picture Book Of The Year: Students listened to 8 picture books during their library times from January - March. Before spring break our primary students had the opportunity to vote for their favourite book. The winner will be announced this spring.
Langley Book Of The Year: Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for our celebration lunch the end of May: Samuel Y., Vivian M., Noah F., Angelena L., Roman Z., and Ryker D. There is still time for students to qualify for the party.
Reading Link Challenge: Our In-School challenge will be in our school gym on Wednesday, April 8th, from 11 - 12. Parents are welcome to attend and cheer on our 38 students. The winning team will go on to compete on Tuesday, April 14th from 12:30 - 2pm at Lynn Fripps Elementary.
PAC Information
Grade 5 Camp Fundraising Information
- The date has been set! Camp Stillwood has been booked for May 22nd!
- Stay tuned for candy sales after school! $2
- Thank you for supporting the grade 5 Cedar Rim Fundraiser!
Info from the School District
Learning Resources in Schools
The Ministry of Education and Child Care is responsible for setting direction around the use of Learning Resources by educators in classrooms and school Learning Commons. In BC, the Ministry of Education and Child Care has determined that local boards of education have responsibility for determining how learning resources are chosen for use in schools. All boards and school districts must have policies and procedures for choosing learning resources. This directive is set out in the Ministry of Education and Child Care's Learning Resources Policy which can be found at the link below:
In Langley, there are two Administrative Procedures that guide the selection and use of Learning Resources in Langley schools. Both procedures can be found on the school district website and are being shared with parents at the links below:
Administrative Procedure 251 – Learning Resources
https://media.sd35.bc.ca/media/Default/medialib/ap_251_learning_resources.393d258361.pdf
Administrative Procedure 252 – Selection Procedure for Library Learning Commons Resources
If parents/caregivers have questions or concerns about the resources available in their child’s school or the local procedures regarding the review, evaluation, approval, and selection of learning resources, they should reach out first to their child’s teacher or school principal. Most questions and concerns can be addressed productively through conversation with educators at the school level.
Info from Langley Township - Active Beyond the Bell
Tuesday, April 7,2026 – 10:00am
All ABTB courses will be visible on our website at tol.ca/recregister
Priority Registration: What is it?
Priority registration will be offered to current participants, and their siblings, who have registered for ABTB as of January 5, 2026, and who are registered for a minimum of 8 weeks between January and March. Eligible families will receive their priority registration date via a phone call on or before April 14, 2026. All spots in the ABTB program will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Other ABTB participants and the general public can register on the dates and times listed below.
General Registration
Our general registration for ABTB opens up on Tuesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 30.
Please review the info letter attached for more information on how to register, and which registration date applies to your school.
Active Beyond the Bell Information.pdf
Info from Fraser Health
Spring Health Information (from Fraser Health)
Health, safety, and wellness continue to be a priority in our schools. To help support our students and families, we are sharing important information from our community partner Fraser Health about spring health for school-aged children and youth. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.
Spring Health for Kids
The spring season is approaching which means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. It’s also an opportunity to foster new healthy habits for our children. Here are five practical tips for school-aged kids to make the most of this season.
Get Active
Warmer weather makes spring the perfect time to get outside and play. Take a walk around your neighbourhood or head to a local park or hiking trail. You can also stay active close to home with jump rope or hopscotch in your neighbourhood.
Think Fresh
Springtime often brings up images of fresh fruits and vegetables. Now is a great time to teach children about where food comes from by helping them to start their own home garden. You don’t need a large space to get started. Any bright space indoors or outdoors can be used to grow fresh food. For tips, check out this resource about gardening with kids.
Be Sun Safe
Sunburns are possible, even in spring. Use a sunscreen that has Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or more. When possible, schedule outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon and early evening. If you and your children are out in the sun during mid-day hours, wear long sleeves, loose-fitting long pants and a hat.
Be Prepared for Extreme Weather
Spring weather can be very unpredictable and can bring heavy rains or heat. Make sure you and your family are ready for possible flooding, heat and indoor air quality issues.
Plan for summer heat by preparing your home early. Find tips on Window safety for children as well as information and resources, including programs to help, at Fraser Health’s Before a heat event page.
Practice Road Safety
Biking is a great way to exercise and spend quality time with your family. Remember to keep safety top of mind. Protect their heads with a well-fitted helmet and teach them the rules of the road, such as the hand signals for stop, right and left-hand turns. Check out our Fraser Health’s Bike safety for children page.
For tips on all of this and more, check out Fraser Health’s Spring health guide.